Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin looks on as first-round draft pick linebacker Lawrence Timmons speaks to the media for the first time at the Steelers' offices.
By Ed Bouchette
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
On a day in which the Steelers introduced top draft choice Lawrence Timmons at a news conference, the debate surrounding their No. 3 pick remained thick with dissenters.
It's not a question of Matt Spaeth's talent or production or character, but what in the world the Steelers were doing drafting another tight end on the first day?
At 6-7, Matt Spaeth is the tallest target for Ben Roethlisberger.
This is a team that has relied on its ground game more than any team in the NFL the past three decades, that has a new coach who said his primary goals are to win by attrition (to run and stop the run), one that drafted a pretty fair tight end in the first round just two years ago, and hasn't drafted a running back in the top three rounds in this century.
None of that mattered when it came the Steelers' turn to pick 13th in the third round and saw Spaeth sticking out like a 6-foot-7 tight end in a dwindling crowd. Spaeth's credentials include winning the Mackey Award as the college football's best tight end, an honor that also went to Heath Miller, drafted by the Steelers in 2005.
"We were ecstatic that he fell to us," said the new impresario of the Steelers' offense, Bruce Arians. "We had three names; they were popping off like firecrackers right there and we just held our breath that he'd stay there."
Fans and other draft experts have said more things under their breath ever since. But, of course, the Steelers did have their reasons for drafting another tight end. And, upon closer look, some of them even make sense:
It may have been a draft deep in wide receivers, but none at that point whom the Steelers felt were any better than their top four and none with the value they put on Spaeth.
Same with the running backs. The Steelers did not like what they saw at that point.
Arians wants to use more tight ends and wide receivers in various formations and more one-back schemes.
Tight ends are getting harder and harder to find as teams go more to spread offenses.
Also, at 6 feet 7, Spaeth runs a 4.85 in the 40 and should be able to run down the middle and drag a linebacker and maybe a safety with him. In theory, that would open things up more for other receivers, including Heath Miller, and also for halfback Willie Parker.
"He is big, tall and fast," Arians said. "He can block. He is an outstanding, prototypical tight end. At 6-7, he can help stretch the field and he can also handle the point of attack.
"He gives us good flexibility to take Heath and move him around a lot more. Also ... I like having three tight ends on the field a lot of times."
Spaeth, a four-year starter at Minnesota and first team All-Big Ten the past two years, becomes the tallest target for quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and certainly not his most humble.
"I'm a physical, blocking tight end," Spaeth said. "I can run routes, catch the ball. I'm a four-down guy. I can stay on the field and we don't have to make a sub for a running down or a passing down."
He and the Steelers believe he slipped a little in the draft because of a shoulder injury last year that has since healed. The Steelers felt the same way when they drafted Miller near the end of the first round in 2005 after he had surgery to repair a sports hernia.
Spaeth caught 47 passes for 564 yards last season. He started 45 games in four years and caught 109 passes for 1,291 yards and 12 touchdowns.
"Like Heath, I think he slid because of not being able to work out until late, missing most of the combine," Arians said. "And when he did work out, he got back pretty early. I think we got a steal."
(Ed Bouchette can be reached at ebouchette@post-gazette.com.)
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